I am an Assistant Professor of Biology at Marian University, where my research interests cover a wide-range of perspectives from neuroscience, to endocrinology, to molecular genetics, to ecology. Through this integrative approach, I am able to elucidate how organisms deal with a dynamic environment. Currently, I am exploring questions in physiological ecology and conservation physiology that allow us to ascertain how an individual in a population responds to human disturbances such as habitat fragmentation, endocrine disruptors, and climate change. Students in my lab focus on a variety of projects using turtles, frogs, birds, and squirrels as model organisms. My students will learn a variety of techniques ranging from PCR and ELISA, to behavioral observations and more.

I received my BS in Animal Science from the University of Illinois in 1999, my MS in Integrative Biology from the University of Illinois in 2002, and my PhD in Zoology from the University of Washington in 2009. I currently maintain the Marian University Science Blog as well as direct the Marian University Interdisciplinary Seminar Series